The 14 US Allies Participating In The F-35 Lightning II Program

The F-35 Lightning II is also known by another name, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). While Lockheed Martin and the US armed forces are without a doubt, the leaders of the program, there are fourteen total members in the collaborative development project that ultimately produced one of the only fifth generation fighters in the world. The JSF project introduced a new paradigm of defense cooperation with a multinational approach, wherein partners divide operational, manufacturing, and development duties based on their expertise and specialization.
Photo: US Air Force
The parties invested in the program are spread across multiple continents thanks to the scope of strategic benefits offered by the F-35. Booz Allen comments that all of the participants contribute unique technical expertise that shapes the final product while also benefiting from a unified fighter platform. Shared responsibility and shared invested has resulted in strengthened mutual dedication to next-generation airpower. The F-35 is a platform for the fight of tomorrow and already proving itself as an exceptional asset in every Air Force its serving with. Let’s take a look at the allied countries’ roles, specific technical roles, and the overall infrastructure that supports the complex project that is a multinational fifth generation fighter.
One team, one fight
Fourteen nations have joined with the United States to procure the F-35 are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Each operator has a shared interest in acquiring a fifth generation stealth fighter despite the significant variation on their primary missions, operational theaters and defense posture. The simple fact remains that the F-35 is such a powerful tool that it can be satisfy the needs of almost every Air Force regardless of the differences between their specialties – especially with three distinct variants.
Photo: US Air Force
For one example, the assembly lines in Japan at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries show how one ally, under the supervision of US partners, can adjust the manufacturing pipeline to fit domestic conditions and produce excellent results. Similar programs are in place in other participating countries, where domestic industrial methods are used to build and maintain the JSF and its components. From DCMA, the manufacturing of the first Japan-built F-35 brought a novel dimension to international defense production and underscored a new avenue for industrial collaboration. In order to create a high state of readiness and streamline the supply chain, procurement agreements with each partner nation secure the availability of localized infrastructure. This internationally integrated system shows how a single defense platform can be different requirements without compromising common operational goals and serve to foster greater trust and shared defense between nations.
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Partners of the Joint Strike Fighter program are:
United Kingdom, F-35A – Royal Air Force; F-35B Royal Navy
Italy, F-35A – Italian Air Force; F-35B – Italian Navy
Netherlands, F-35A – Royal Netherlands Air Force
Norway, F-35A – Royal Norwegian Air Force
Denmark, F-35A – Royal Danish Air Force
Australia, F-35A – Royal Australian Air Force
Canada, F-35A – Royal Canadian Air Force
Photo: US Air Force
Foreign military sales (FMS) partners
Israel, F-35A – Israeli Air Force
Japan, F-35A – Japan Air SDF; F-35B – Japan Maritime SDF
South Korea, F-35A – Republic of Korea Air Force
Belgium, F-35A – Belgian Air and Space Component
Poland, F-35A – Polish Air Force
Singapore, F-35A – Republic of Singapore Air Force
Finland, F-35A – Finnish Air Force
Industrial and technological network
The responsibility for the majority of the development, and subsequent production, was split between three prime contractors for the F-35’s major components – Lockheed Martin , Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems . From the mission statement of the 2021 Joint Strike Fighter program, we can find the intended purpose of using one aircraft across the board:
“The F-35A will be a stealthy multi-role aircraft, primarily air-to-ground, for the Air Force to replace the F-16 and A-10 and complement the F22. The F-35B variant will be a multi-role strike fighter aircraft to replace the AV-8B and F/A-18A/C/D for the Marine Corps. The F-35C will provide the U.S. Navy a multi-role, stealthy strike fighter aircraft to complement the F/A-18E/F.”
Photo: US Air Force
And it goes on to say:
“The transition from multiple type/model/series to a common platform will result in a smaller total force over time and operational and overall cost efficiencies.”
Photo: US Air Force
Each partner contributes to the ongoing research and production required by the complexities of a multi-role stealth design. The collaborative production of this endeavor is seen in the sub-assemblies, which span from electronic warfare (EW) suites to mission computers and avionics. Production lines in Italy and Japan operate in tandem with those in the United States. Joint research projects refine the technologies embedded in the aircraft, while coordinated procurement efforts streamline and strengthen supply chains among different air forces. The scale of this endeavor signals a broader shift toward multinational defense initiatives that combine expertise, funding, and production capacities for shared defense and shared success.
Fighter variants
Three primary variants of the F-35 were developed, each designed to fulfill a different role but largely overlapping in their primary features and equipment. The F-35A is the conventional, land based, takeoff and landing variant operated by most air forces. The F-35B features a short takeoff and vertical landing configuration for operations on big deck, assault ships or austere forward operating bases. The F-35C was made for naval aviation with the reinforcements and characteristics necessary for operating from aircraft carriers.
Photo: US Air Force
F-35A Lightning II : Length: 51.4 ft (15.7 m) Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m) Speed: 1,200 mph (1,930 km/h) Range: 1,350 mi (2,170 km)
F-35B Lightning II : Length: 51.2 ft (15.6 m) Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m) Speed: 1,200 mph (1,930 km/h) Range: 900 mi (1,450 km)
F-35C Lightning II : Length: 51.5 ft (15.7 m) Wingspan: 43 ft (13.1 m) Speed: 1,200 mph (1,930 km/h) Range: 1,200 mi (1,930 km)
Long-term sustainment of the F-35 involves the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, which coordinates with participating countries to align maintenance, upgrades, and logistics. Ongoing improvements stem from feedback loops in which allies integrate performance data into the broader program. Manufacturing partners, maintenance depots, and research centers work under a unified strategy that leverages the expertise of various corporate and governmental bodies.
Related Lockheed Martin On Track To Deliver 100 F-35s To The US Military This Year Lockheed is set to meet its upper target for F-35 deliveries in 2024 and appears set to exceed 2023 deliveries.
According to the US Navy’s NAVAIR, international partners share a logistics network that spans multiple continents, enabling a rapid exchange of spare parts and technical services.. Full operational capability and lifetime sustainment in each partner nation is approached as a collective goal. The JSF program exemplifies how nations can collaborate to produce and sustain complex defense systems. Shared efforts across industries, militaries, and research institutions have laid the precedent for future multinational projects of scale.